It Begins pt.7
After a few minutes of recovering from the shellshock, the group found themselves hiding behind what was left of 42's wing.
"Buzz Lightyear, Mission Log." Buzz began recording the events. "By launching the Alpha-1 at the precise moment of detonation, Zurg believes us to be destroyed. I feel I must pause for a moment of silence in honor of my ship."
"Oh, please, Buzz, it was just a hunk of metal!" XR snapped.
"Okay and you are…?" Mira asked as she glared at the bot.
"In serious need of some personal space." He moaned.
"Speaking of which, mind moving your hand from there?" Jill snapped.
"Sorry, can't, out of my control." XR quickly responded.
"So, Buzz, did Zurg win?" Booster asked his hero.
"Not a chance, Booster. I've got Zurg right where I want him." Buzz said.
"Well, wherever he is, I'll bet he's got legroom." XR groaned angrily.
"Seriously? Move. Your. Hand." Jill snapped.
"Ok, ranger Nova, let's test that little theory of yours." Buzz said as he drove towards Planet Z.
"So, nobody's ever actually infiltrated planet z before?" XR asked.
"Never." Buzz stated.
"Oh man…" Booster warbled.
"Listen, a spacecraft this small won't be detected. I'm positive." Mira said before pausing a bit. "You know, I'm pretty- I mean, you know, I'm not 100% positive." She rambled on a bit as they entered the Planet's atmosphere.
"Well, THAT just made me feel confident over this whole scenario." Jill sneered as Mira glared at her.
"BLAST!" Buzz yelled causing the others to jump. "The seeker drones are on patrol!"
"Oh, THIS just gets better and better." XR snapped.
"I can do this. Just-" Buzz began as Mira, XR and Jill lunged forward as they barely missed a drone's path. "Need a little elbow room!"
"And I'd like the tin toy to stop goosing me every five minutes. But THAT'S not gonna happen!" Jill snapped as they avoided more seeker drones. A sharp thrust sent the occupants in the tiny craft backwards and a soft click followed by a beeping was heard.
"Uh, Buzz? I think I sat on a button." Booster said sheepishly.
"What button?" Mira asked worryingly. Taking one of his eyes into his hand and putting it behind Booster, XR read the label.
"Let me see, 'Emergency Water Landing.'"
"Oh that wouldn't be so bad. IF WE WERE OVER WATER!" Mira yelled.
"What's gonna happen?" Booster whimpered.
"First the crystallic fusion core deactivates," Buzz began as the ship's power shut down. "And then-" Suddenly large blue balloons surrounded the spaceship as a siren went off.
"Oh man…!" Booster moaned. Buzz tried to shut it off as they started to go down.
"Blast!" He murmured as they hit the ground. But thanks to the inflated balloons they bounced instead of crashing…three times, and then they crashed. "Rangers, condition status!" Four moans of discomfort and displeasure where his response. "Excellent! Let's roll." He said with a thumb up. After waiting for a group of Hornets with a brain pod to pass, the five exited the Alpha-1. Jill helped Mira and Booster to remove the deflated balloons as XR 'talked' to the ship via a cord.
"Uh huh…yeah…okay!" He stated as he unplugged the cord. "The Alpha-1 is A-OK! But it asks that we NOT do that again." Buzz looked to the others before speaking.
"You four take the ship, find the planets that Zurg hasn't hit yet and supervise immediate evacuations." The four looked at him surprised.
"But, What about Zurg?" Mira asked. Buzz looked to the side.
"He's my problem." Mira looked at him cross.
"He's everybody's problem!"
"Mira, there's only one way for me to finish this mission. Alone."
"But Buzz!" Booster piped up. "That's against the rules! In the star command mission manual it clearly states that no ranger is to go into action without back-up. I think its section 6, subsection delta." XR pulled out the manual and looked it over. Meanwhile Buzz had a ticked off look on his face.
"Actually, it's section 6, subsection gamma."
"He's right big guy, subsection delta's the dress code. Incidentally, why can't we have nose rings? "
"Because, nose rings are for punks little mister." Buzz snapped.
"So are tattoos. But they never do a body check for 'em." Jill muttered under her breath.
"WHAT?" Buzz yelled.
"Nothing." Jill whistled innocently.
"Well, if you can take on Zurg alone, I don't see why XR can't get a nose ring." Mira said, crossing her arms and bringing Buzz back to the current situation.
"I was just asking a question. I'm not the one getting a nose ring." XR said raising his hands up in defense.
"Then…who's getting a nose ring?" Booster asked, scratching his head. Giving a loud gasp, he continued. "That's why Buzz wants to ditch us!"
"I am not getting a nose ring! Nobody's getting a nose ring, it's against the rules!" Buzz snapped angrily.
"Which, apparently, don't apply to you." Mira said coyly at Buzz.
"Oh course they apply to me, the rules apply to everyone." He said.
"Great. Then you're not facing Zurg alone, and we'll be your backup!" Buzz looked like he was about to blow a gasket, but quickly composed himself.
"I want the four of you off this planet now. And that's an order." He said coldly.
"Yes Sir!" XR and Booster yelped before marching off. Mira glared at Buzz.
"Ranger Nova." Buzz said sternly.
"Yes…sir." Mira growled before storming off.
"Thank you." Buzz's expression softened as his gaze turned to Jill. "Jillian?" Sighing a bit, she walked up to him.
"Yes Da-" She was pulled into a hug as Buzz held her close. She was shocked at first, and then slowly touched his arms.
"I want you to know, I love you with all my heart. Keep safe." He kissed her head and let her go before setting off. Standing there for a bit, Jill quickly ran after him before hugging him tightly. "Jill-?" He began.
"I love you too. And no matter our differences, you're the best dad any girl could ask for." Buzz smiled and hugged her back.
"I love you too, Sweetie." His expression turned into a stern glare. "We're still going to have a serious talk about that tattoo, Young Lady."
"Yeah…kinda saw that one coming." Jill murmured as she headed towards the Alpha-1. Buzz smiled as he watched her go, then turned and left to face Zurg. Perhaps, for the final time.